Dogs need to learn to like taking baths as much as learn to like their fur being brushed, nails being trimmed, or ears being cleaned. The training process to provide a dog with pleasant experiences being bathed will provide the dog parent with a dog who’ll give years of steady and calm participation at bath time.
A Booster Bath is a back-saving bathtub dog parents can use for their dogs that can be set up outside or inside, if you have the space and a nearby drain. They make two sizes; a Booster Bath for medium dogs and a Booster Bath for large dogs. I emphasize, back saving. Best invention for giving dogs baths ever!
It’s especially helpful to teach big dogs to jump into and out of the bath tub safely, and on your cue, not on their own. Otherwise, they can injure themselves if they panic and take off either coming or going. Besides that, having a wet, soapy dog running through the yard, or worse, the house, can be laughable, but also messy.
I forgot my camera when giving my dog, Raven, a bath, and gave her a cue to stay, then I walked into the house to grab my camera and I returned to her standing in the tub waiting for me. Working obedience cues during day-to-day activities strengthen them for times like these. Helpful times like these!
Raven got plenty of treats, and then pictures taken. I point out the wash cloth on her back. I’ve found for short haired dogs, a wash cloth makes the soap foam up and spread out much better than using just hands. Also, a wash cloth is needed for cleaning out ears, and it helps clean between toes and on the belly. Raven loved the dog training for the bathtub that taught her to be fond of baths.
Raven is an excellent bath taker. She even lifts her back legs for me when I’m washing her paws. Today, she thought we were done at one point and turned around, jumped out, and when I realized she was gone, I called her back out. Yes, she did the very thing I mentioned above; she took a sudsy stroll through the house, but not for long. She came back outside, and jumped back into the tub with a “My Mistake” look on her face. She got a hand full of treats for jumping back into the tub. She made a mistake, So what? She came back when I called her and jumped back in. People aren’t the only ones who make mistakes.
After the bath is done, it’s time for plenty of towel drying. This is what is nice about Broward county, Florida winters, dog baths outdoors and towel drying. With temperatures in the 80’s, we do get spoiled that way. But still, it’s a great idea to use the Tropic Shower, which is easily connected to a washing machine hook-up. I did in my laundry room! The Tropic Shower provides the combination of hot and cold water to make a nice, warm shower for a dog. But always be aware of the temperature coming out of the hose. Especially in the summer. The water that comes out initially is boiling hot, and it can take a minute or more of running the water to get it to tepid.
Training a dog to take a bath in Fort Lauderdale is like a day at the beach! Contact me for a session on the how-to.
By Helen Verte
Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed, Certified Trick Dog Instructor
Broward County Dog Training, Fort Lauderdale
